Improved apparatus for steering vessels by water



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. FOSTER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,832, dated December 3, 1861.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be itknown thatI, JOHN H. FOSTER, of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of propeller, constructed and applied as hereinafter described, within a transverse cylinder near the bow or stern, or both, and rotated in either direction to steer the ship 'or impart a lateral motion thereto.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents the hull of the vessel.

B B are stationary tubes or cylinders, secured one at each side near the stem or stern transversely of the hull and in line with each other. The said cylinders extend through the ships sides, communicating with the Water.

O is a cylinder rotating upon bearings in pillow-blocks D, and extending between the adjacent ends of the tubes B B, with which it is connected by stuiing-boxes E E.

F represents a spiral iiange or screw secured within the'cylinder O.

G represents a circle of cogs formed upon the periphery of the cylinder C and employed to rotate the same by connection with a steamengine in any suitable manner, in order to steer the vessel or move her around or laterally, as may be needful.

The operation is as follows: When it is desired to turn or change the course or position ofthe ship, the screw, either at the bow or stern, is rotated in the proper direction, the effect of which is to draw the Water into the tube at one side and expel it at the other, the reaction of which upon the screwr imparts motion to the vessel. By means of two screws, one near each end, a vessel may be moved bodily sidewise orturned round within her own length. The perfect control of the ship which is thus afforded enables it to be navigated with greater safety in difficult or contracted channels. For war purposes it is of especial import-ance, enabling the ship to be quickly placed and constantly kept in a position to render her guns most eective or expose her as little as possible to those of the enemy.

In practice the apparatus may be placed nearer the stem or stern and much lower in the hold than is here represented, and will thus occupy but little room.

The screws may be run either by small engines placed in the hold for that purpose or by connection with the' main engine.

What I claim as new. and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination ot' the stationary transverse'tubes B B and rotary cylinder O, with a shaftless screw F iixed therein, and cogs G upon its periphery, employedin the manner hereiubefore explained for working and steering vessels.

The above specification of myimprovement in working and steering vessels signed this 18th day of September, 1861.

J OI-IN H. FOSTER. Witnesses:

OcrAvIUs KNIGHT, L. W. BENDR. 

